US2257385A

US2257385A - Storage water heater

Info

Publication number: US2257385A
Application number: US294333A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Keegan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-09-11
Filing date: 1939-09-11
Publication date: 1941-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1958-09-30

Description

INVENTOR. 7b/0V 6./EGAN WVM ATT Q 6 ff FM 7 fr ,//f/ ,7 /1 1/ //5 /f i, d /v f l N N N f/ Il u f, y 2 v l B ,o m 0 f u l I w /rr w, f 7 nl 'l /J/l /1 z/ 1,/ f1 z/f/v 1/ fr rf rv/z /1 /l/ ff f 7 /0 wf 2 6 EYS.

Patented sept. 3o, 1941 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STORAGE WATER. HEATER John G. Keegan, Cheyenne, Wyo.` Application September 11, 1939, Serial No. 294,333

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in storage water heaters.

Various types of storage water heaters are in common use. The fundamental elements of mostheat insulating jacket around the tank, and a` conductive connection between the tank and the hot water distributing system. Such storage water heaters are in common use in private homes, apartments, hotels and other places where a continuous source of hot water is desired.

It has been discovered that when a storage water heater tank of this type is connected with acity water main, electrolytic decomposition of the tank is inclined to occur. This is primarily due to the fact that there are different kinds of metals present in the assembly, i. e., the tank may be made of iron and the pipe line connection may be galvanized iron, copper or brass.

It is common practice to bring the cold water supply in through the top of a water heater tank and 'project the tube or pipe that conducts the water, down through the tank so that the incoming cold water may be discharged adjacent the lower portion thereof. In such an assembly if the downwardly projecting pipe within the tank is a metallic electrical conductor and the tank itself is metal of a different kind, which is usually the case, then a certain amount of galvanic action ordinarily is set up, particularly when the water in the tank is heated. This galvanic action creates electrical currents which are considerably stimulated by the fact that the incoming water pipe serves as an excellent ground for the assembly. As above pointed out, these electrical currents tend to decompose the metal of J the tank and other associated parts and ttings,

with the result that leaks may develop and the tank eventually may have to be replaced.

Another phase oi the decomposition oi the metal of the tank, resides in the fact that .the

electrical currents tend to decompose the water in the tank, liberating oxygen which in turn tends to corrode by oxidation the tank and associated fittings.

A still further cause for electrolytic decom- 5" position of a water heater tank sometimes develops when the tank is installedadjacent an` electric street railway line or other sourceof CFI electrical energy that may be grounded. Under such circumstances, electrical currents may flow from the ground along a water` or gas pipe line to the tank assembly. i

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a connection for a water or gas pipe, to a storage water heater that is a non-conductor of electricity, whereby the galvanic and electrolytic actions above explained will be substantially reduced or eliminated.

Another object is to provide in a storage water heater of this character, means for holding a dielectric conduit in a position to extend into the water tank of the heater in conductive connection witha water conduit.

A further object is the provision in a storage water heater, of means whereby an electric-nonconductive pipe or tube, which may be fragile, readily may be assembled into the water tank after said tank has been installed in its permanent position, thereby avoiding the hazard of breakage of said non-conductive pipe or tube during handling and shipping of the heater.

Other objects and advantages reside in details of design and construction which will be more fully disclosed in the following description and in the drawing wherein like parts have been similarly designated and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary View partly in section, of a dielectric conduit' union which is made according to a preferred form of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a view, partly in section, of a typical storage water heater that embodies the present inventive concept.

In order to disclose an operable reduction to practice of the present invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing. However, it is to be understood that the example herewith illustrated and described is not intended to express or imply any limitation to this inventive concept, the scope of which is measured by the appended claims.

In the drawing, 'reference character 5 denotes a conductive conduit which may be considered as a water` pipea gas pipe or the like. Reference character 6 denotes a continuation of conduit 5 which is dielectrically connected therewith by `means of a special electrically non-conductive flange 8 by means of a union nut I2 which enl contact with the flange 8, but is separated therefrom by means of a dielectric gasket element I3` which completely surrounds the flange 8. .A die-` lectric gasket element I3 may be made of material such as rubber, fibre, micarta or similar material having suitable strength, together with the desired sealing and dielectric properties. The dielectric gasket element I3 may be made in two pieces as illustrated, one having a rectangular cross section that is positioned next to the member I and the other having a Z-shaped section to fit around the flange 8. Under some circumstances, the dielectric gasket element I3 may be made of more than two. members or if its material is elastic, it can be made` entirely'in one piece. y l i It will be seen that the threaded member I0 on the conduit is thus drawn into a sealed engagement Withfthe sleeve 9 on the conduit 6 through the intermediary of the flange 8 and the dielectric gasket I3. The result of this arrangement is thatfluid is conducted freely from conduit 5 to conduit 5, but no electrically conductive connection between conduit 5 and conduit 6 is permitted.

Obviously, the dielectric union 1 can be made' in optional sizes to suit various conditions and may be used in conduits for conducting a variety of fluids including water, oil, fuel-'gas and the like. Thev details of the dielectric union 1 are subject to variation, particularly reversal of arrangements. The arrangement of parts herein illustrated, are typical and well adapted for the present purposes.

Referring next to Figure 2, reference character I4 denotes the tank of a typical storage water heater, which is surrounded by an insulating jacket I5, as is common practice, for the purpose of conserving heat units.

Below the water tank I4 is a typical gas burner I6 andthe entire assembly is carried upon a plurality of supports or legs I1.

A water conduit 5a may be considered as the cold Water supply to the tank I4 and corresponds to the conduit 5 of Figure 1. A short conductive pipe or nipple 6a is conductively connected with the tank I4 and corresponds With the conduit 6 of Figure 1. The conduit 5a and the nipple 6a .are conductivelyjoined by means of the dielectric union 1, the interior details of which may be as shown in Figure 1. Y

incoming flow of cold Water to the tank. "The dielectric pipe or tube I9 is open at its-lower end within the tank I4 adjacent the lower portion of said tank. The dielectric pipe or tube I9 may be held in the nipple 6a by any one of several means, such as, for instance, it could be cemented in the nipple or it could be provided with a slightly flanged upper end which would be enclosed in the union assembly 1. y

`The `dielectricpipe or,V tubef-IS may be made of any one of several suitable materials, such as, for instance, heat resisting glass, baked ceramic materials, such as porcelain or clay, or it could .be a molded material or composition, such as such as a cement mixture.

Ii the'lo'o'r upon which the storage water heater is to rest is consideredas electrically conduc- Furthermore; if the dielectric tube or pipe I9 tive, such as a damp basement iloormight well be, then the legs or supports I1`may beplaced upon blocks of insulating materiaLas shown at 20.

Thus, is provided a storage water heater that.l is i completely insulated electrically from' the ground and from all pipe connections that mayor may not lead to the ground. The dielectric pipe or tube Ieliminates the tendency to setup an electrolytic or galvanic action within the tank I4, which commonly may occur if a metal Ypipe f cording to this inventive concept, The dielectric pipe or tube I9 readily may be inserted `into ,the tank I4 through the short pipe or nipple 8a after the heater assembly has been set'up yin its per- I marient position and beforethe dielectric union 1 is closed. This point is advantageous in that the dielectric tube or pipe I9 may be fragile and f easily broken. Therefore, it is advantageous to install said dielectric pipe I9 after all moving and handling of the water tank has been nished.

shou1d,'at any time, break or fail, a new one readily can be inserted by opening the dielectric union 1. y

The dielectric unions 'I are well adapted to be used by anyone skilled in the art of plumbing or y pipe tting and can readily be used with ordinary A water-conductive conduit ,5b may be considered as the hot Water outlet of the/tank, which is connected with a short pipe. or/nipple 6b on the tank I4, through the intermediary of another dielectric union 1.

The gasV supply conduit for the burner I6 is shown at 5c which is connected with a short pipe or nipple 8c through the intermediary of another dielectric coupling '1. The pipe or nipple 8c connects directly with themixing chamber I8 of the gas burner IB.

Improved efiiciency is usually obtained inf'fa storage water heater of this type when the incoming cold water supply is discharged into the tank adjacent the lower portion thereof. Therefore, a dielectric tube I9 is held in the short pipe or nipple Bain conductive connectionv with the commercial pipe.

A water heater built according to this disclosure is substantially free from galvanic actionand K electrolytic decomposition. It therefore will have a longer life of service. f Thus, the stated'objects of this invention ane fully accomplished and while this speccation ldiscloses preferredv means for reducing the 'presl ent invention to practice and a preferred 'embodiment of the invention, changes may occur to those skilled inthe art and may be'made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from this inventive concept.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters prising a tank, a body of -water in the tank,v a.

water-conductive dielectric conduitl extending through'a wall of the vtank in water-tight' rela- ',tion thereto and extending into the body of wa'- l en il. A device of the character disclosed conipris ing n tonie, e nodi;` ci Wetei in the tenit. n Weten conductive dielectric conduit projecting through e well of the tenia in water-tight relation thereto and projecting into the body oi water in seid tank., ineens lor heating the wete? in the tunic, and dielectric ineensior conducting Water eivey from the tank.

ln u. :ster-ege wetter neuter leaving' e tenia, the improvement which comprises o, dielectric conduit sealed into a Wall of the tank and projecting into the interior of the tenir, end ineens for holding the outer end of the conduit in sealed waterconductive connection with a, Water pipe.

ll. In u storage Water heater having a, tank. the improvement which comprises e, dielectric conduit extending through a Wall of said tank, means for removably sealing the conduit in seid Weill,` and means for holding the outer end of the conduit in sealed conductive connection with e. Water supply pipe.

5. The combination with a domestic water heater, inclusive of a metallic tank, of a metallic supply conduit the tenii.. 'end et lieetcesctent t gloss conduit coni'iecting the eupnlv' conduit with the interior the teu1 i for the thereto.

ii. The combination with. e, domestic weiter hesiter, inclusive of a metallic tunic, of e metallic supply conduit for the end e poiceloin conn duit connee e the supply conduit with the interior Yof thev tonie ioi: tlie delivery of: weiter thereto.

7. The combination with et domestic wetei' lieatei, inclusive of a meteillic tank, oi e metallic supply conduit for' the tenit, and e, ceramic conduit connecting the supply conduit with the in terior of the tank for the delivery of water thereto.

8. The combination with e domestic water heater, inclusive of e metallic tank, of e metallic supply conduit for the tank, and a dielectric molded conduit connecting the supply conduit with the interior oi? the tank and sealed through a Wall thereof for the delivery of water thereto.

JOHN G. KEEGAN.

delivery ot" Weiter